It has become cliché now to state that cross is coming. It never seems to disappear now, and people are permanently excited about cyclocross.
Your riding buddies probably talk about it in hallowed terms, and they’ll be telling you that you need to try it.
You’ll probably then want to look at a bike to try cross on, so we’ve created a list of the 5 best cyclocross bikes available for under $1000.
Rather than focus on bikes that are only geared for racing, we have also looked at bikes that have multiple uses. There may be every chance that after a few races you decided cross is not for you.
You then don’t want to have spent a lot of money on a bike that will either just sit there or get sold. We wanted the bike that could then be turned into a commuter, a bikepacker, a tourer, or a gravel bike.
That way, you could be sure of getting your money’s worth.
Editor’s Note: The article was updated in January 2023. Jake added one of his recommendations: Salsa Journeyman Claris which should replace Vitus Energie, model from 2019 that is hard to find these days. We still left descriptions of Vitus Energie in the article.
We’ve then followed up the review with a few tips for you, and a little bit of advice about what spending more than $1000 will do for you.
Diamondback Bicycles Haanjo 2
Key Features
- 16 speed
- Tektro mechanical disc brakes
- Rack mounts
The Diamondback Haanjo 2 is described as a gravel bike. It is definitely a gravel bike, but with a quick change of tires it will be a great first cyclocross bike, and given that it can fit 38mm wide tires it will have plenty of mud clearance.
As with the Gravity above, the Haanjo 2 is capable of doing many jobs. It can also be adapted to be run as a commuter and as a bikepacking bike, and as with the Gravity, it also features rack mounts.
Putting all this together again means that you have a bike that can be used all year round and not just during cross season. The ability to do so many roles makes the Haanjo 2 a great quiver killer, and that might help make it an easier to sell to your other half.
The Hanjo 2 comes with a Shimano Claris 16 speed groupset. The good news here is that the front rings are 46/34t, that will give you a very cyclocross friendly gearing. It will be light enough to help you torque your way through a wet and muddy field.
You’ll also find a set of Tektro Lyra mechanical disc brakes. The Lyra brakes will give you a little better stopping power than canti, especially in wet and muddy conditions.
You’ll also have the advantage that you’re not slowly destroying your wheel rim when you brake.
Rim brakes and mud can make a paste that will eat away and destroy your wheel rims when you brake, which is one of the reasons many amateur racers prefer disc brakes as it saves buying a lot of expensive wheels.
Salsa Journeyman Claris 700
The Salsa Journeyman is a versatile bike that can be used for cyclocross but won’t be left sitting in your garage collecting dust when the season is over. This versatile bike features mounting plenty of mounting points to attach racks so you can use it as a speedy commuter or do some light touring on some trails.
The Journeyman features an aluminum frame made out of 6061 aluminum which is affordable, yet still provides comfort on longer rides.
The frame and fork both have clearance for larger tires, so you should have no problem finding tires for cyclocross or gravel riding that will fit this frame. In fact, you can fit up to a 50c tire on the Salsa Journeyman, though it comes stock with 37s.
All the cables on the Journeyman are routed internally which keeps them out of your way if you are carrying the bike over obstacles on the ‘cross course. The bike is set up with a 2×8 Shimano Claris drivetrain. This line from Shimano is an excellent value due to its low cost and good performance when you are shifting.
The brakes on the Journeyman are 160mm disc brakes, which will provide great stopping power and modulation, a must if you plan on racing cyclocross competitively. Even if you don’t, you will certainly appreciate the performance of the disc brakes if you are riding in inclement weather.
Overall, the Salsa Journeyman is a bike that will please a lot of riders due to its versatility and will keep your wallet happy too. At $950, this bike is a steal that will make you smile every time you swing your leg over it. Check it out on REI’s website.
Triban GRVL120
Key Items
- A well-built, department store cyclocross bike
- Tubeless Ready
- A stock 10-speed one-by groupset
Buying a cyclocross bike from a department store like Decathlon might be considered unwise; however, Triban’s GRVL120 is a bike that offers all the perks of a cyclocross bike, with an alloy frame and fork with carbon blades and an alloy steerer. It also has decent tire clearance and a set of fender and rack mounts, making it properly equipped without breaking the bank.
The 10-speed single-ring groupset from Microshift, paired with a clutched derailleur, reduces chain slap to prevent the chain from dropping off. This means that the bike won’t fall apart whether it’s competing on a cyclocross course or on a mild gravel path, unlike most generic department store bicycles.
Surprisingly, the bike comes tubeless ready, which we recommend installing immediately. Riding with tubeless tires at a lower pressure gives you better grip and faster rotation.
Although primarily a gravel bike, the lack of mounts and overall mounted weight capacity may limit its potential on gravel roads. However, it performs excellently on short gravel rides and cyclocross courses. With the appropriate upgrades, you can unlock the bike’s true potential without requiring a giant budget, making it feel like a higher-end cyclocross bike.
Vitus Energie (Apex 1×11)
Key Features
- 11 speed
- SRAM Apex hydraulic disc brakes
- Carbon fiber fork
The Vitus Energie is a full-blooded cyclocross race bike, and it is the most race-ready bike we’ve seen so far. It also normally costs over $1000 but is currently less than $1000, and as far as we are concerned, it is a bit of a bargain.
The Energie is based on a lightweight aluminum frame, and attached to this frame is a Toray T700 carbon fiber fork. These together make this bike lighter than other bikes in the test, although the weight may equalize out when they are all covered in mud.
The Energie runs a modern cross bike gearing setup. It runs a single ring at the front to stop mud clogging up your front derailleur and bringing you gear issues.
At the back, you’ll find an 11-speed cassette that should have the gear range you need for racing, and a bit of commuting should you want to multitask your bike.
WTB supplies the tubeless-ready wheels and tires, and with a spare 30mins at home, you should be able to set them up tubeless. Setting them up tubeless will allow you to lower your tire pressures to find grip in even the slippiest of cross courses and terrains. It will also help you avoid having punctures should you use the bike for commuting.
Braking wise, we have the most powerful brakes, yet in our review feature. The Energie comes with a full SRAM Apex groupset, and that includes their great hydraulic brakes.
You’ll find these brakes will stop you quickly in the worst conditions. The hood which holds the brakes master cylinder also comes shaped nicely and will give you an added feeling of control as you race right on your limit.
Gravity Liberty CX (unavailable)
Key Features
- 24 speed
- Tektro canti brakes
- Rack mounts
If you want to dip your toes in cyclocross and you’re not yet sure it is the sport for you, the Gravity Liberty CX could be a good bike to help you get your toes wet.
The good news is that if you decide cross is not for you, the Gravity Liberty CX comes with rack mounts. These rack mounts mean you could use the Gravity as a commuter bike or a lightweight tourer if your priorities change.
The Gravity is cheap, the reason it is cheap is that it doesn’t use the latest parts, it uses tried and tested parts. You don’t get disc brakes, but you do get Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes (cantis).
By using cantis you’ll have a lighter weight setup than those running discs, they will just have better-stopping power in the rain/snow/sleet.
You’ll also find a 24-speed drivetrain. Shimano Sora is providing you with all the gears you’ll need and more.
You might find that the front derailleur will get clogged up with mud and limit its usefulness for races but if you use the bike for commuting or light touring you’ll be more than happy with the extra gears that come on offer with the Gravity Liberty CX.
Pure Cycles Adventure Gravel Pro (unavailable)
Key Features
- 18 speed
- Steel frame and fork
- Rack mounts
The Pure Cycles Adventure Gravel pro is another bike that has jumped on the growing adventure and gravel market. It is a skinny 4130 steel tubed bike, which gives it a lovely retro look.
It also gives the bike a great riding feel and helps to make it strong enough to last offroad.
The bike comes with 38mm wide tires, and again you may want o change these tires for something a little knobblier for the racing cross. 38mm is also too wide for UCI sanctioned races, but jumping down to 33mm tires means that you’ll have a lot of mud clearance.
The amount of mud clearance becomes spectacular when you realize that the Adventure Gravel pro will also clear 47mm wide tires. 47mm tires will put you in mountain bike territory, so it is easy to see this bike can handle offroad.
There is an 18 speed Shimano Sora groupset on the bike to make sure that you can find the gear that you need for the course that you’re racing on.
Again you’ll find cyclocross rather than road style front chainrings, allow a little lower gearing to make riding offroad easier. There is also a set of mechanical disc brakes to help keep your stopping power up as you power through a course.
Raleigh Bikes Amelia 2 (unavailable)
Key Features
- 18 speed
- Women-specific design
- Rack mounts
The Raleigh Bikes Amelia 2 is a women’s specific geometry; it again is aimed at the adventure market. It comes with a set of Clements X’PLOR tires that should also be able to hold their grip in some cyclocross courses, so don’t need to be changed as quickly as some of the other bikes in our review.
Thankfully despite being women’s specific, Raleigh has not just gone and shrinked and pinked a guy’s bike. There has been thought put into making this bike more suitable for women.
You’ll find a narrower handlebar to suit the narrower shoulders of women. Which will make cross racing slightly easier, you’ll feel more in control with a narrower bar and find it easier to cut through ruts and keep your bike lined up.
Gearing wise, you’ll find a Shimano Sora groupset bringing you 18 gears from which to choose from, and you should have more than enough choice for a cross course.
The bike also features Tektro Lyra mechanical disc brakes so you can be sure of stopping when you need to.
As with the other bikes in our test, we have made sure that the Amelia 2 can jump into other pursuits should it turn out that cyclo-cross is not for you.
You’ll find rack points for allowing your to mount panniers so the Amelia 2 can make a good fast commuter and as it has some gravel DNA it will also make a good touring bike.
What to look for in a cyclocross bike
Mud clearance
You’ll want frames that can clear mud as cross races will generally be a very muddy field. If your bike can’t shed mud, then it will clog up, and you’ll find yourself in a running race.
Lower gearing
You will not want a road bike gearing. You’ll want a bike with lower gears as that will help you navigate your way through ruts and off-camber sections.
Too big a gear and you’ll just spin and fall a lot as you won’t be able to get the forward momentum that you need.
Make sure it fits
A bike that is too big will be a nightmare on a cross course, and you’ll never really have enough control. A bike that is too small can have advantages, but you’ll need to be aware of its shortcomings, it will be less fun on long days.
Buy a color you like
If you want to ride a bike, you better make sure that you like the way it looks. Buy a color you like, and you’ll be way more willing to get out and ride, even when the weather is terrible.
Do I need to spend more than $1000
As you can see, we looked at a few bikes from the gravel side of cycling. The reason is simple; you’ll find more of them in the affordable range of bikes.
Cyclocross bikes tend to be more specific, and the cost is higher. You might also end up not like a racing cross so we picked bikes that can perform a few roles and then you can decide whether to splash out or not.
You’ll find the usual caveats from cycling about spending more than $1000. You’ll get a lighter bike, better gear shifting, and increased strength.
If you are just dipping your toe, you don’t want to be spending more until you know you’re going to be serious about buying a bike.
You’ll also find that the bikes over $1000 will have less ability to perform several roles. For instance, you might lose bottle mounts as the UCI doesn’t allow drinking during a cross race. If you’ve lost the bottle mounts you’ll have lost the rack mounts; you’ll then have a very race-focused bike.
The next compromise would be that for racing you can’t ride tires wider than 33mm, so most specific cross frames are not designed to give you more room than that.
33mm tires are wide, but the ability to go wider means you can have more comfort and grip for the rest of your riding, especially if you don’t want to own a quiver of bikes.
I’ve spent way more time in the bike trade than anyone should reasonably want to. In that time I’ve wanted to make cycling jargon and marketing easier to cut through to help people get the bike of their dreams.
When I’m not writing about bikes, I can be seen out bikepacking on single speed bikes or teaching kids how to ride.
